Hotels out, houses in
Wednesday 18th March 2009, 2:56PM GMT.
JERSEY could soon lose three more of its hotels to housing. Two have been approved for demolition, and one could soon follow.
On Friday Environment Minister Freddie Cohen granted businessman Richard Brocken permission to knock down the Cheval Roc Hotel to build three houses. The hotel overlooks Bonne Nuit and has been owned by Mr Brocken for five years.
At the public ministerial hearing, Senator Cohen also approved, in principle, the demolition of Fort d’Auvergne Hotel in Havre des Pas, to be replaced by 38 one- to three-bedroom flats with 55 parking spaces.
The owners of a hotel in St Mary are also seeking permission for housing. Eileen and Edward A’Court, who have run the West View Hotel for about 30 years, have submitted an application to knock down the hotel in Grande Rue. They say that they are closing the hotel because they want to retire.
• Picture: An artist’s impression of the 38 flats that have been given in-principle approval at the Fort d’Auvergne hotel
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Another nail in the tourism coffin through underfunding and a reliance on the finance industry.
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What’s the point in tourism spending so much on advertising when we have virtually no hotels left for people to stay in when they get here? Money would probably be best spent keeping these hotels going rather allowing the building of more flats that no-one can afford to buy.
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Looks like our annual holiday to the island is becoming a thing of the past, it’s already costing us twice as much to holiday there as it did five years ago
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yes and these rich people who buy these hotels know they are going to turn them into housing,what do they care about jersey or tourism as long as they can make a quick buck or 2 to add even more to their millions.
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Mr Cohen, were spending money on tourism then removing the hotels. Please explain your actions? Do you think before you make decisions? I think not.
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How sad to see yet another seafront hotel disappear in what is our ‘seaside’ district, are they going to rename it Havre des Apartments?
I can see people wanting to retire after 30 years of running a hotel, but did they try to sell it on before deciding to demolish it and replace it with housing that most young (and older) people can’t afford in these times?
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Time to build some new budjet hotels– that will boost tourism –in other words back to the future good luck!!!
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What a fantastic artists impression of another block of flats, I’m just got to have one, this is just what Jersey needs and not before time. The architecture is so modern and clinical, thanks Freddie! I like your vision of the future. C’mon Jersey show the world
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Yet again we will hear the plaintiff cry of what is happening to tourism in Jersey.
Too expensive, lack of decent accommodation and nothing to do. This sums it up.
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The Fort D’Auvegrne hotel is no beauty but it does blend into its surroundings. The replacement block of flats will singlehandedly destroy the Victorian charm of Havre des Pas which was the last bit of town coastline not spoilt by modern developments.
The legacy Freddie Cohen is leaving future generations of islanders is a disgrace and he should be ashamed of himself.
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The tourism industry is dead. There is a housing shortage. Do the math.
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The States of Jersey bemoan the falling tourism trade, so what do they do? Approve the demolition/conversion of even more hotels! I am a frequent visitor to the island, and each time it amazes me how many hotels and guest houses have disappeared to make way for so-called luxury accommodation and/or offices! Pretty soon, they will be hiring out tents to that we can stay on the beach (assuming that there will still be there in St Helier)! Between that and the prohibitive airport taxes, I can see that everything is being done to encourage tourists to the island – NOT!
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For the last 10 years or so Jersey’s hotels and guesthouses have been closing and being coverted into ‘luxury’ flats. The trend continues.
Can someone remind me why we needed the Carbunckle on the waterfront?
Does it make sense to close a large number of small – medium sized hotels and convert them unless you have an interest in property development?
Does it then make sense to build a new hotel to replace some of the lost beds. Unless you have an interest in property development?
Rewind to 1990……
hey, why don’t we just keep the ones we have?
Derrr…and how does that make Mr property developer wealthy then?
Umm…It doesn’t.
It’s simple. Shut them down and convert = mega cash. Then built an ‘iconic’ hotel to replace the lost beds = mega cash. Its profit at both ends. Win/win
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I suppose we will just have to rely on the finance industry.
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Loads more money for the speculators building these unwanted flats. I reckon they will have made sure they can sell them on to unqualified people before they bought them, this will further maximise their profit margins. Also with the way many of these luxury builds are banged up in a few months I think they will be being knocked down in 40-50 years time.
Why doesn’t planning demand that things are built to last anymore? It wouldn’t be because there is more profit and work for these developers who will then rebuild them at the alloted time for even more money? This inbuilt obsolesence is great for big business properties that last 300-400 years don’t make as much money do they?
Pat if we carry on relying on finance most of us will be unemployed before too long! However as most are not local they can go back from whence they came to get work leaving those with stamps in their passports behind. This should cut down traffic jams somewhat and get rid of all the developers building unwanted flats as there will be no one left to buy them! Jersey can then get back to reality and a much higher quality of life for those left here. Money isn’t everything though many equate it as such.
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adrian,your being slightly optimistic about flats being knocked down in 40-50 years,try 20(ann court)elysee estate (20years)nicky park? and many more.the house i live in has stood the test of time 200years plus not built like these rabbit hutches of today.no-one in the states seem to care how they use our money without a thought on these cheap buildings,its called false economy in case they did,nt know.
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Looking at the artist impression of these proposed flats I simply cannot understand who would buy one apart from perhaps a young single professional person who wants a very low maintenance pad to sleep in.They obviously aren’t for families and I doubt that older people wishing to downsize would be interested.At this moment I have friends in Jersey trying to sell a very nice 2 bedroom flat and they are getting absolutely no interest in it at all.I am baffled as to why more and more of this type of accommodation is being built in Jersey- well apart from making big money for developers who only have to sell a fraction of them to make a nice profit of course.
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I shall be very disappointed if West View hotel is demolished for housing as as far as I am concerned West View hotel and its manager Phil alway made sure I had a great time in Jersey during my many holidays on the Island and at West View Hotel.
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It is sad to hear that West View is to be demolished for housing.For 18 years I have spent my summer holidays at West View,and have made many new friends through the hotel. The manager Phil Hey,always made you feel welcome,and made sure you had a good holiday,on the island and at West View. I can only wish Phil all the best for the future.
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